Culture Jamming

Top Pop Culture Picks for the Week

This San Francisco hip-hop group sounds revitalized right from get-go. “The Magic Clap,” the funky opening track of the band’s first studio album in six years, simultaneously recalls Outkast and Rage Against the Machine.

The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary)

The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary)

(Polydor)

Packaged with an 88-page booklet, this six CD set features 30 previously unreleased tracks. Highlights include a 1966 live show the band played in Columbus, Ohio, and Nico’s 1967 album Chelsea Girl. The set is also available on vinyl.

Calvin Harris

18 Months

(Ultra/Roc Nation/Columbia)

This Scottish DJ takes a page out of Prince’s musical playbook on this high-energy funk and R&B-influenced electronic dance music album that features cameos from Rihanna, Kelis, Ne-Yo, Florence Welch, Dizzee Rascal, Ellie Goulding and Tinie Tempah.